PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving Communion, the central sacrament of the church, in Rhode Island because of the congressman's support for abortion rights, Kennedy said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.

The decision by the outspoken prelate, reported on The Providence Journal's Web site, significantly escalates a bitter dispute between Tobin, an ultra orthodox bishop, and Kennedy, a son of the nation's most famous Roman Catholic family.

"The bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me Communion," Kennedy told the paper in an interview conducted Friday.

Kennedy said the bishop had explained the penalty by telling him "that I am not a good practicing Catholic because of the positions that I've taken as a public official," particularly on abortion.

He declined to say when or how Tobin told him not to take the sacrament. And he declined to say whether he has obeyed the bishop's injunction.

The paper said the bishop's spokesman declined to address the question of whether he had told Kennedy not to receive Communion. But the bishop's office cast doubt on Kennedy's related assertion about instructions to state priests.

"Bishop Tobin has never addressed matters relative to public officials receiving Holy Communion with pastors of the diocese," spokesman Michael K. Guilfoyle told the paper in an e-mailed statement.

Kennedy did not return messages left on his cell phone by The Associated Press, and his staff refused to make the congressman available for comment. Tobin's spokesman told the AP that the bishop would not comment on the issue.

Church law permits Tobin to ban Kennedy from receiving Communion within the Diocese of Providence, which covers Rhode Island, but he cannot stop Kennedy from receiving Communion elsewhere. It was unclear whether bishops overseeing Washington and

"... whatever... you know... that means, in Priest-speak. Cripes, I'm so freakin' hung over, most Sunday mornings, I can practically see Mary Jo wavin' at me from the bar stool a good two, three waitresses over, an'... an'... hey, you gonna eat that onion? I haven't had any breakfast yet." ;)

FTA: ...Tobin, an ultra orthodox bishop, and Kennedy, a son of the nation's most famous Roman Catholic family. Should read: Tobin, an honorable, practicing Catholic and Kennedy, son of a recently heaven-denied murderer, serial philanderer, alcoholic and socialist, who was the leader of a family that made it's fortune breaking the law, stealing from the public treasury and attempting to enslave a free people and an entire nation.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving Communion, the central sacrament of the church, in Rhode Island because of the congressman’s support for abortion rights

FINALLY some spine.

You cannot abort the innocents, Patrick, and accept the eucharist.

12
posted on 11/22/2009 5:46:10 AM PST
by omega4179
(0 is an embarrassment to us all.)

A formidable coalition of 150 Catholic, Orthodox and evangelical leaders are calling on Christians in a new manifesto to reject secular authority  and even engage in civil disobedience  if laws force them to accept abortion, same-sex marriage and other ideas that betray their religious beliefs. ...

If everyone who was pro-choce and/or uses contraceptives stayed away from church, their membership would be zip.

Not being Catholic, I have no "dog" in this fight, personally... but: c'mon. Either Man changes at the behest of the Church, or the Church changes at the behest of Man. And I'm reasonably certain the Bible leans decidedly towards the former, rather than the latter. ;)

This story began several weeks ago when Bishop Tobin invited Rep. Kennedy to a private meeting to discuss his stance on abortion. At that time, he was issued a warning - in private. Kennedy went public. Why? Ask Kennedy.

21
posted on 11/22/2009 5:51:06 AM PST
by NYer
("One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone" - Benedict XVI)

If everyone who was pro-choce and/or uses contraceptives stayed away from church, their membership would be zip.

Go to any good Bible-search site (www.Biblegateway.com is a good choice) and search for the word 'remnant'. Probably best to limit the version to the KJV. It has always been God's observation that most people will, given the choice, opt away from eternal life after death for pleasure and self-satisfaction in this life.

22
posted on 11/22/2009 5:52:42 AM PST
by BelegStrongbow
(I'm still waiting for Dear Leader to say something that isn't a lie)

"The bishop instructed me not to take Communion and said that he has instructed the diocesan priests not to give me Communion," Kennedy told the paper in an interview conducted Friday.

"Bishop Tobin has never addressed matters relative to public officials receiving Holy Communion with pastors of the diocese," spokesman Michael K. Guilfoyle told the paper in an e-mailed statement.

This sounds more like a typical Kennedy Klan half-truth uttered by Patrick and calculated to cast himself as a victim and gain undeserved public sympathy. He clearly didn't expect anyone from the diocese to speak out and refute his lie publicly..

24
posted on 11/22/2009 5:54:31 AM PST
by Iron Munro
(I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take another beating.)

“Should read: Tobin, an honorable, practicing Catholic and Kennedy, son of a recently heaven-denied murderer, serial philanderer, alcoholic and socialist, who was the leader of a family that made it’s fortune breaking the law, stealing from the public treasury and attempting to enslave a free people and an entire nation. “

What purpose did Kennedy have in revealing this in a newspaper article? Since the bishop isnt talking, how do we know its even true?

Who knows with that drug addled mind of Kennedy's. Best guess is that, since everything's about him, and he really doesn't get any of this at all, he thinks he can wear this as some sort of badge of honor to be "persecuted" for his *cough* principled stand.

Second, the story says that the bishop is ultra orthodox. What does the ultra mean. Someone is either orthodox or heterodox, what does the modifier ultra really indicate about Tobin.

IMHO, the word indicates more about the author of the piece than Tobin. I take it to be intended as a perjorative. Much like a judge who follows the Constitution is considered an extremist by media standards, a Catholic bishop who actually follows church canon has to be some sort of nut. Implied: Kennedy's abortion stance isn't the problem, it's this wild-eyed bishop causing all the problems. By suggesting that Tobin's an extremist, out of the mainstream of Catholic thought, Kennedy is cast as the victim, not really at odds with Catholicism at all, just this one bishop's hair-splitting fanaticism.

Anyone who promotes, participates and encourages and now will government fund abortion is excommunicated ipso facto.

Divorced and remarried Catholics cannot receive The Eucharist.

Those in the state of mortal (grievous sin) cannot receive The Eucharist.

The Bishop has tried to talk with him about the gravity of the state of his soul. Obviously Kennedy refused to convert to the teaching of the Church.

By barring him from receiving The Eucharist, if Kennedy persists in receiving after being warned about the state of his soul, he brings more judgement on himself.

I agree that he is playing his “victim” card.

Let us all pray for his conversion and give thanks that his Bishop took the time to counsel him privately and now publicly as so many have been publicly scandalized by Kennedy’s arrogance in his very uncatholic behavior.

Wait a minute...your argument is you would prefer a church that attracts people that don't have sex?

The point is he GLORIFIES abortion!

No not people that don't have sex, but people who accept the consequences for their actions. I think we're in agreement and maybe I stated it badly, but IMHO abortion is not an acceptable response, once a baby is involved you have the choice of either keeping it or giving it up for adoption, (other than rare cases).

Not so. It’s God who created this clueless young Kennedy’s life. Kennedy’s gone badly astray. But he can still repent and start walking toward the destination for which he was created: grace, a life well lived, and a vast eternity of joy.

Plus there's this, from the clueless author quoted in the article, Michael Sean Winters: "It's really bad theology," said Winters, who opposes abortion. "You're turning the altar rail into a battle field, a political battlefield no less, and it does a disservice to the Eucharist."

Winters is exactly and precisely wrong. Bishop Tobin is obliged by law to deny Holy Communion to an impenitent man in Kennedy's position (Canon 915 --- Google that ---uses the word "must"), and this is what the Church calls a "medicinal penalty" because it is intended to make a desperately sick soul aware that repentance is urgently needed.

Bishop Tobin's action was an act of kindness and diligent pastoral care. Mindful of Corinthians 11:17, he knows that for Kennedy to receive under these circumstances would be like letting him eat spiritual cyanide. He would be eating and drinking his own condemnation.

How is it possible that an active, "in good standing" Catholic - IN A POSITION OF POWER - is given communion by a PRIEST knowing this person is committing the MORTAL SIN of actively creating or supporting policies that kill unborn babies??????

DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?... No, it doesn't!

The same thing should be done with all the other so call "Catholics" in PUBLIC OFFICE who do the same thing.

48
posted on 11/22/2009 8:13:17 AM PST
by ElPatriota
(The SILENCE of the Catholic Church on the war (...Actually I heard something lately) ** DEAFENING **)

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